Euphrasia officinalis

Taxonomic note: Consists of a large number of microspecies and their hybrids, which are not treated separately here. The only British Euphrasia species outside the taxa here aggregated together is E salisburgensis, which does not occur in Skye.

Photo © Carl Farmer
3 Aug 2002 Portree

Common in a variety of habitats, including moorland, mountains, rock ledges, sea cliffs, roadsides, grassland and sea shore.

Flower c 4-8 mm across. Plants small, usually well under 20 cm high.

Skye ID: Upper lip of flower with two upward-curving well-notched lobes. Lower lip divided into three well-notched lobes. Flower whitish or mauvish with yellow or orange blotch in centre of lower lip, and purple lines.

Other features: Flowers in leafy spikes. Leaves roughly oval in shape, deeply toothed. An annual, semi-parasitic plant, very variable but easily recognised.

Skye Flora